A good news for around 50 lakh central employees might be in offing: the government might consider increasing fitment factor to 3.68 times from the current 2.57 times that would lead to a hike in minimum basic pay to Rs 26,000, a news report said.

At present, the Central government employees are getting basic pay according to the fitment formula of 2.57 of the basic pay and if this big step is taken, it will come as a massive news for the Central government employees, the report said.

Fitment factor is a figure used by 7th CPC with which the basic pay in 6th CPC regime (i.e Pay in Pay band + Grade pay) is multiplied in order to fix basic pay in revised pay structure (i.e 7th CPC). Fitment factor formulated by 7th CPC is 2.57.

It is expected that the proposal would be sent to the Cabinet at the start of next financial year.

The Seventh Pay Commission had earlier recommended Rs 18,000 as the basic salary but the employees are demanding it to raise further to Rs 26,000.

Arun Jaitley in 2016 in Rajya Sabha promised to hike pay of the central government employees beyond the suggestion of the 7th Pay Commission.

Lately, there’s a strong buzz in a section of media that the employees might receive arrears and an increased pay hike from next fiscal, starting from 1 April, the report said.